Celtic star sparks major storm with ‘immature' goal celebration days after DEACTIVATING Instagram account amid abuse
The winger has explained his controversial actions - and you can watch his stunning goal below
PALM OFF Celtic star sparks major storm with 'immature' goal celebration days after DEACTIVATING Instagram account amid abuse
CELTIC winger Luis Palma was the hero for Honduras last night as he booked their place in the next round of the Gold Cup with a stoppage time winner - days after sparking controversy in his homeland.
Palma, 25, came off the bench in the second half to fire home the winner in the dying moments as Honduras beat Curucao to progress to the quarter-final.
Advertisement
4
Luis Palma scoring his winning goal in the Gold Cup clash
Credit: Reuters
4
His bizarre celebration after scoring the winner
Credit: Reuters
4
He cupped his ears in another aimed dig at supporters
Credit: Reuters
The Celtic star was dropped for the games against Curucao and El Salvador after he came under fire following the humbling 6-0 defeat to Canada in the opening game of the tournament.
Palma and several of his team-mates were slammed by fans and accused of lacking commitment following their antics off the pitch in the days leading up to the opening clash.
A group of players - Palma included - went live on TikTok and participated in "battles" on the social media platform ahead of the tournament.
That itself wasn't an issue for fans initially until the shocking defeat on June 18.
Advertisement
Palma was hooked at half-time when Canada were up 2-0.
Many felt their preparation should have been more focused on the match and blamed the defeat on the live social media broadcasts.
Palma was targeted by supporters online and closed his Instagram account after receiving a wave of criticism.
He then hit back at his critics with an unusual celebration following his last-gasp winner against Curacao.
Advertisement
After he rifled the ball into the top corner in added time, Palma raced over to the crowd and celebrated with his team-mates before making a bizarre gesture.
He appeared to bring out an imaginary phone and tapped it six times in a jibe to fans who slammed him for his use of social media.
What's holding up Nygren Plus Kuhn & Maeda price tags REVEALED Celtic transfer special
Palma then cupped his ears in another aimed dig at his critics.
Many Honduras fans weren't impressed with his actions as one accused him of being "immature", while another branded him "arrogant".
Advertisement
A social media user wrote: Luis Palma #ElTikTokero scored a goal and celebrated it stupidly and arrogantly."
Another wrote: Luis Palma, you've deserved the criticism for your TikTok lives. Speak up on the field."
A third added: "Luis Palma's celebration is pitiful and immature."
4
Advertisement
Speaking after the game, Palma confirmed the celebration was a direct response to fans who slammed him.
"My celebration was a response to what people have said about this team.
"We have had to accept our criticism, but please be aware we are all very professional and are desperate to win.
"It was a great performance by us. Now we play Panama next and that's a tough match for us."
Advertisement
Honduras face Panama in the quarter-final on Sunday, June 29.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
30 minutes ago
- The National
Alistair Johnston makes Celtic Champions League admission
The right-back has played several times for his side in European football's premier club competition. Read more: Johnston helped Celtic reach the knockout stages of the Champions League last season, but admits it can be hard coming up against big sides who are unfazed. He said [One Soccer]: "When you're at a club like Celtic, it's about going out there, no matter how the game is going, chest out, head up, confident. "Because I know in the Champions League, when you play against a team like Bayern Munich, you feel like you're on top of it, then you look across, and they don't look fazed, how difficult that can be when you're technically the underdog in the match. So it's about us doing that domestically as well and realising that, look, you can win games just on your body language." Johnston signed a long-term contract at Parkhead last year that will keep him a Celtic player until at least the summer of 2029. He recently admitted he had to seek the help of a sports psychologist when his form dipped: "I could tell performances were lagging a little bit and I just felt like I was a little overwhelmed," said the Canadian. "And that's when I actually started speaking to a sports psychologist and they really helped me with understanding, okay, yeah, being out in public in Glasgow is really difficult. It's taxing and understanding that. "And don't feel like you need to constantly put on a face, but understand that, okay, that is when you leave your front door, it's gonna be like that. So, you need to have alternate ways to just completely decompress. And that's when I decided I was gonna move from a flat in the West End and move out and get a house with a private garden and everything, so that we could have the dog running about and just have a bit more privacy. "And that's something that I learned is that it was those smaller sacrifices, kind of things like that, that made a big difference for me. Having your own personal space and just finding ways to get away from it. And again, I'm only famous in a 20-mile radius of Glasgow."
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Luca Brecel pulls out of British Open in bizarre start to his snooker season
Luca Brecel has pulled out of British Open qualifying on the day he was due to play after failing to show up for his Wuhan Open qualifier on Sunday. The 30-year-old gave no warning on Sunday ahead of his scheduled contest with Haris Tahir, with his opponent eventually being handed a 5-0 win. On Wednesday he was due to be in Leicester again for British Open qualifying against Alexander Ursenbacher, but pulled out on the day, allowing amateur player Ashley Carty to take his place in the draw. A brief statement from World Snooker Tour on Wednesday afternoon read: 'Luca Brecel has withdrawn from this week's British Open qualifiers and been replaced in the draw by Ashley Carty. 'Brecel was due to face Alexander Ursenbacher on Wednesday afternoon but has decided to pull out. Carty is the highest available player from the Q School top-up list.' Whether he will be punished by the snooker hierarchy is yet to be confirmed, but he does face the possibility of a fine unless he gives an appropriate reason for his absence. Brecel has not given a reason for not playing in the two events at the Mattioli Arena, he has been busy on social media, seemingly enjoying himself. On Sunday, when he was due to play Tahir, he posted picture on Instagram with his reported new girlfriend Shawney Demuyter and another of pizzas with two glasses of wine. By Tuesday the Bullet was posting pictures wearing a bizarre mask and an eye-catching hat. Wednesday saw the former world champ sporting a wig, shortly before he was due to be playing Ursenbacher. The Belgian Bullet finished last season off impressively as he looked great on a run to the quarter-finals of the World Championship, where he was beaten by Judd Trump in an excellent contest. They were encouraging signs for the man who had won the 2023 World Championship but had a very quiet time after that, skipping a number of tournaments and struggling for results in the ones he played in. He has slipped down to number 39 in the world rankings and failing to play in either the Wuhan Open or British Open puts him at risk of falling further down in the rankings in the weeks to come. His next scheduled matches are on July 17 in the Championship League, but whether he plays in those or not is yet to be seen. More Trending The Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah in August would be the next event for the Bullet after that. Asked about his fall outside of the top 16 at the World Championship in April, Brecel said he was actually looking forward to qualifiers. 'There's also a good side, less travelling maybe, less extra tournaments so for me it's maybe better,' he said of no longer being in the top 16. 'I enjoy the qualifiers to be honest, I don't need to be on the TV table, I like being on the outside table as well. For me it's all about playing snooker.' MORE: Three major World Snooker Tour events move to new TV channel MORE: 10 storylines of the new snooker season as the 2025-26 campaign begins MORE: Anthony Hamilton names snooker star's transformation as 'most impressive thing I've seen'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Deontay Wilder to have two comeback fights before eying double header with Anthony Joshua in London and Las Vegas
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DEONTAY WILDER is set for two confidence-building comeback fights - before eyeing a double header with Anthony Joshua. The former WBC champion returns on Saturday in Kansas against little-known Tyrrell Herndon looking to bounce back after two losses. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Deontay Wilder returns in Kansas Credit: Instagram 3 Anthony Joshua is still linked Credit: Instagram Nelson Lopez Jr - a former matchmaker for the likes of Oscar de la Hoya and PBC - is promoting Wilder's low-profile return. A three-fight deal is in place between the pair - with Wilder's second comeback fight already pencilled in - before they target a showdown with AJ. Lopez told SunSport: "Yeah listen, we got a tentative deal and we're just going one by one. "We have the next one set up, this one set up, nothing solid for the third one - you know how boxing is, there's no path of how you succeed. "We have to get over this, so anything can happen. We got to get over the next one. Anything can happen. "And then, you know maybe Eddie will sit at the table and see what we can do something with AJ." Wilder was stunned on points against Joseph Parker in December 2024 before he was knocked out in June 2024 by Zhilei Zhang. Both times he blew the chance to fight 35-year-old Joshua - who was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September and has since had elbow surgery. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Promoter Nelson has opened the door to a two-fight with with AJ - in Las Vegas and London - with the possibility of a trilogy. He said: "Maybe we go ahead and lock in a trilogy. You know what I mean, why not? Boxer Jin Sasaki suffers six-week memory loss after brutal KO and cannot remember fight "For both fighters maybe we lock in something we can do guaranteed two fights and if one wins and one wins, we do the third. "I would do it that way. I don't think the fans would be mad at that. "I think either way it would have be amazing fight for both of them and whoever wins the first two then you're crowned the man." Wilder, 39, went through a period of radio silence after his fifth-round stoppage loss to Zhang in Riyadh. He cited personal issues for his absence from the spotlight - and also had secret arm surgery with plans to return to the big time. Lopez said: "Yeah, he's definitely up for these fights. "Our in Kansas slated "Legacy Reloaded" so the first two fights are just leading towards that."
